Resilient vehicle-wheel



T. C. DOBBINS.

RESILIENJ' VEHICLE WHEEL.

Amlcmou FILED JAN. 12. 1918,

Patented Feb. 22, 1921.

WMATTORNEYA UNITED, STATES. PATENT .oF IcE- TIMOTHY C. DOBBINSfOF LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA, ASSIGNOR,- BY DIRECT AND MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, TO THE DOBBIN'S WHEEL COMPANY, A. CORPORATION OF COLORADO.

or hub member is resiliently connected with i an inclosing wheel rim member through a pneumatic or other resilient cushioning device, while at the same time the one or more wheel rim members used on each wheel are laterally guided with respect to the wheel center member so that undesirable lateral movement is prevented under'running conditions, 'One of these wheel members is preferably provided with rocking contact shoes or members adapted to cooperate with the interposed resilient cushioning device and these rocking shoes are preferably formed with knife edge or rocking pivots co operating with suitable socket bearing members formed in or secured to the wheel rim member, retainer devices beingpreferably used to positively prevent the disengagement of these cooperatingbearing devices.

In the accompanying drawing showing in a somewhat diagrammatic way various 'illustrative embodiments of this invention,

Figure 1 is a side elevation partly in section showing one form of the lnvention. p Fig. '2 is a partial'enlargedtransverse section thereof taken substantially along the line 2-2 of Fig.1; and l 1 Fig. is an enlarged perspective view of one of the contact shoes.

As illustrated and effective. embodiment of this invention may comprise'a wheel center member of any suitable construction with which one ormore wheel rim members may be connected so as to move radially under running conditions in a resilient way to accommodate road irregularities. here a dual type of construction isrus ed the desired number of wheel rim members may be independently and resiliently mounted on a multiple wheel center member so as to be RESILIENT VEHICLE-WHEEL.

Specification of Letters Patent. Patented Feb. 22, 1921. Application filed January 12, 1918. V SerialNo. 211,679.

radially. movable with respect thereto while preferably being laterally guided asby suit able lateral guiding plates which may also inclose the pneumatic or other resilient cushionlng' devices interposed between these wheel members. The wheel center member may comprise ahub section, such as 6, formed with integral or otherwise connected spokes l0 and;grooved peripheral portion 27 and this hub may be mounted on the axle 3 in any suitable way as by .a drive fit,

other hub sections, such as 2, being, if de- Q sirech'removably secured to the axle by fitting over a central bushing 9 on the hub member 6 and being bolted in position as by the stud bolts This additionnl or outer hub section 2 may he formed with the spokes 1 and grooved peripheral portion 27 so that the desired number .of pneumatic or other resilient cushioning devices 11, 12, may be mounted intheseperipheral grooves 13 in the multiple wheel center member;

A corresponding number of wheel rim members may be used and may each comprise the flanged section rim 23 having outwardly extending tire flanges. 24 to 'which the resilient or other tire 35 may bersecured, while. if desired, inwardly extending integral flanges may give additional strength to the wheel rim member so. that an 1 amply strong, light construction is secured. Any desired number of rocking contact shoes or members preferably having a gripping action on the interposed resilient cushioning device may be movably' mounted on either of the'wheel members, such,-for instance, as the wheel rim members shown in the drawing. 7 These contact shoes 141 may, if desired, be formed with a suitable grooved contact face which may advantageously be given a V-shaped cross-section'soas to desirably cooperate with the V-shaped contact face of the resilient cushioning. device which preferably has a somewhat less angle sothatthe initial contact between these parts occurs adjacent the rounded edge 17 of the pneumatic cushioning device in the form of a special single tube pneumatic tire, for instance. Each contact shoe mayas indicated in Fig. 1, be somewhat curved in a circumferential direction so that as it rocks it has a cam action 50 as I to exert in increased gripping pressure against the resilient cushioning de- 7 Y vice and thus positively preventany unde sirable frictional slip or movement between these parts under working conditions. Furthermore, the downwardly acting weight on the wheel causes the lower contact members 'movement of the contact shoes around the cushioning device so that a'creep of three to six inches more or less takes place per mile of travel and prevents undesirable localized wear on'the cushioning device. To minimize friction these rocking contact shoes are preferably provided with knife edge or rocking pivot bearings comprising, for instance, the'knife edge pivot 16 extending transversely of the gripping shoe so as to insure its rocking substantially in the plane of the wheel. A suitable cooperating bearing member, such as '22, comprising a suitable socket 21, may be bolted or otherwise secured to the rim member at intervals around the same, as shown in Fig. 1, so that ample rockv ing movement of the shoes can take place ers' 40' may be secured ;.as' by the screws 43 in a substantially frictionless-manner, although, of courseathe edge of the rocking pivot on these shoes may be slightly rounded at 20, ifdesired. In most cases it is desirable to have suitable retainers loosely but "permanently connecting these bearing members, and for this purpose the retaini'jo the bearing members 22 on both sides of the same so that their pivot apertures 41 loosely embrace. the reduced pivot extensions 20m both sides of the knife edge pivots of these contact shoes, as shown in Fig. 3; These pivot extensions are under normal running conditions out of contact with the retainers, but in case of severe road impacts the uppercontact shoes are sometimes 1nomentarily, released and under these condi tions or when thepneumatic cushioning device becomes unduly deflated these retainers prevent disengagement of. these coopeiating knife edge bearing devices for the contactv shoes, so that they cannot become displaced. It is also desirable in some cases to provide suitable alining devices to auto rm tically restore these contact shoes to proper alinement whenever they become ini'imcnt'arily released from the cushioning derice, and for this purpose suitable alin= ingsprings 19 maybe {)I'OVlClOCl on one or both sides of each of tliecontact shoes so as t -i normally resiliently engage the alining faces 49 thereof. In this way'the contact 'memberwhenever released so that it can rock'freely automatically swings into alined radial. position.

In order to laterally guide the wheel'memhers under runji'iing' conditions lateral guiding}; and inclosing plates, such a333, may be secured to both sides of the wheel rim member, forinstan'c'e, as by the bolts 34L and nuts 26, so that these plates inclose the cushionthe wheel.

ing device and also considerably strengthen a T and stiffen the wheel rim member against. which the plates may fit quite closely at their peripheries. A. n a d'ditional center cover plate, such as 32, may be secured in place as by the bolts 31 soas to'inclose the hub of Suitable anti-friction bearlng ringsor members 28. may be interposedbesimultaneously prevent access of dirt or dust to the interior of the wheel-and a somewhat softer circumferentially' arranged packing 48 of somewhat similar material may be interposed between the two wheel rim members adjacent their-"peripheries so. as to. pref: vent dirt working in vat this point while-still I allowing the desired independent. radial movement of the rim members. "Each of the wheel r1m members is thus free to move radially andclo sely follow the road surface so that it has considerable supporting action 7 and a correspondingly greater cushioning of road irregularities or bumps i's th'us; secured with a minimum localized pressure or wear on'the'tires. I p V Y J 3 This invention has been described in connection with a number of illustrativeembodiments, parts, proportions, forms, materials andmethods of construction anduse, to the details of which disclosure the invention is not of course to be limited, since what is claimed as new and what is desired to b'e'secured by Letters Patent is set forth in the appended claims: 1 I 1. In resilient vehicle wheel's, a m

ultiple wheel center member comprising hub sec-' tions to be secured to an axle and 'removably bolted together, each of said hfub sections having a" grooved pneumatic resilient cushioning v mounted'in each of said grooved peripheral portions and having a V-shaped outer edge, a wheel rim member'encirclingandcooperr peripheral portion,. a

device:

ating with each of said cushioning devices I and comprising a flangedfrim and t re and r a series of rocking contact, shoes having V- shaped cont-act faces tofengage sa1d'cuslr; ioning device, said: contact shoes hav ng knife edge pivot portions formed with reduced pivot extensions onthe laterally extending ends thereof and cooperating bear-1 ing members formed with sockets and reto normally aline the" same when it is; 're-' 7 tainers loosely engaging said pivot e'xten leased by said cushioning device, and lateral guiding closing plates removably secured to said wheel rim membe'rs'to inclose and laterally guide the same with relation to the peripheral portions or said wheel center nieii-ibcr under running conditions. 7

2. In resilient vehicle wheels, a multiple wheel center member comprising grooved peripheral portions, a resilient cushioning device mounted in each or" said grooved peripheral portions and having a V-shaped outer and cocperating with each of said cushioning devices and comprising a flanged rim and tire and a series of rocking contact shoes having V-shaped contact "faces to engage said cushioning device, said contact shoes having knife edge pivot portions and cooperating bearing members, an alining spring resiliently engaging an alining face on said shoe to normally aline the same when it is released by said cushioning device, and lateral guiding closing platesr'e movably secured to said wheel rim members to inclose and laterally guidethe-same with relation to the peripheral portions of'said wheel center member under running con ditions. I

3. In resilient vehicle wheels, a multiple wheel center member comprising grooved peripheral portions, a resilient cushioning device mounted in each of said grooved peripheral portions, a wheel rim member encirclingancl cooperating with each of said cushioning devices and comprising a flanged rim and tire and a series of rocking contact shoes to engage said cushioning device, said contact" shoes having knife edge pivot portions and cocperating bearing members,

and lateral guiding closing plates removably secured to said wheel rim members to inclose and laterally guide the same with relation to the peripheral portions of said portion thereof and lateral guidin inclosing means secured to the sides of said wheel rim members to laterally guide said wheel rim members underrunning conditions.

5. In resilient vehicle wheels, a multiple wheel center member comprising grooved peripheral portions a plurality of 'pneumatic resilient cushioning devices mounted ed e, a wheel rim member encircling in said grooved peripheral portions and each having a V-shaped outer edge, a wheel rim member inclosing and cooperating with cach'of' said cushioning devices and comprising a flanged rim and tire and a series of rocking contact shoes movably mounted. on said wheel rim members and having V- shaped contact faces having a considerably greater angle than the outer edges of said cushioning devices to engage said cushioning devices adjacent the edge portions thereof and'lateral guiding inclosing means secured to the sides of said wheel rim members to inclose said cushioning members and laterally guide said wheel members under running conditions.

6'. In resilient vehicle wheels, awheel center member comprising a peripheral portion,

a resilient cushioning device mounted on said grooved peripheral portion and having a V-sliaped outer edge, a wheel rim member encircling; and cocperating with said cushioning device and comprising a flanged rim and tire and a series of rockingicontact shoes having- VTshaped contact faces to engage said cushioning device, said contact shoes having knife edge pivot portions formed with reduced pivot extensions on the laterally extending ends thereof and cocperate ing bearing members formed with sockets and retainers connected to said bearing membersand looselyengaging said pivot extensions to prevent their disengagement from said bearing members.

7. In resilient vehicle wheels, a wheel cen ter member comprising a peripheral portion, a resilient cushioning device 'mounted on said rooved 'eripheralportion a wheel D r r.

rim member encirclingand cooperating with sa d cushioning device and comprising a flanged rimand tire and'a series of rocking contact shoes to engage said cush oningdevice, said contact shoes having knife edge pivot portions formed with pivot; extensions on the laterally extending ends thereof and cooperating bearing members formed with sockets and retainers loosely engaging said 1 pivot extensions to prevent their disengagement from said bearing members. V

8. In resilient vehicle wheels, a wheel center member, a Wheel rim member encircling and co-cperating with said wheel center memher, a resilient cushioning device mounted between said wheel members, a series of rocking contact shoes to engage said cushioning device, said contact shoes having knife edge pivot portions formed With reduced 7 pivot extension on the laterally extending ends thereof and coiperating bearing members formed with sockets and mounted on one of said wheel members and retainers con nected tosaid bearing members and loosely engaging said pivot extensions to prevent their disengagement from said bearingmembers, and an alining spring resiliently en gaging an alining faceon said shoe to nor mally aline the same when" it is released by said cushioning device; j

9. In resilient vehicle wheels, a wheel center member, wheel rim member encircling and coiperatin g with said wheel center member, a resilient cushioning device mounted between said wheel members, a series of rocking contact shoes to engage said cushioning device, said contact shoeshaving knife edge pivot portions, cooperating'bearing 7 members formed with sockets and mounted on one of said wheel members and retainers loosely engaging said pivot portions to prevent the r disengagement from said bearing and an aliiiing spring to normally aliiie the same when it is released by said cushioning device.

p 10. In resilient vehicle wheels, a wheel center member, awheel rim member encircling and cooperating with said wheel center member, a resilient cushioning device mounted between said wheel members, a series of rock mg contact shoes to engage said cushioning device, said contact shoes having knife edge pivot. portions, cooperating bearing members mounted on one of said'wheel members and an alining spring to normally aline the same whenit is released by said cushioning device. I s

11. Inresilient vehicle Wheels, a wheel 7 center member, a wheel rim member encirclingand cooperating with said wheel vcenter member, a:resilient cushioning device mounted between said wheel members, a series. of rocking contact shoes to engage said cushioning device, said contact shoes having knife edge pivot portions, cooperating bearing 'members'mounted on one of Sfl1d* wheel members and retainers connected to said bearing members and loosely engaging said pivot portions to prevent their disen gagement'from saidzbearing members.

12.1'In resilient vehicle wheels, a wheel center member, an encircling wheel rim member, an interposed pneumatic resilient cushioning device, a series of rocking con- ,tactshoes to engage said cushioning device,

and an. alining device engaging each of said shoes to normally aline the same when it is released from said cushioning device.

14. A resilient wheel of the character described comprising a wheel center member having a plurality of outwardly facing troughs, a plurality of independently movable I rim members each having inwardly facing troughs, said troughs having: diverging walls, a resilient member located between each of said :rim membersand said center member and provided with working surfaces, the divergence of said walls being greater than the inclination-of said surfaces whereby only the peripheriessof said surfacesywill normally contact with the .pe i'ipheries of saidtroughs and means carried by each of said rim membersadaptedto independently maintain said wheel members in substantial lateral alineinent under run ning cond tions;

"Witnesses: y ,7

y HARRY L. DUNCAN, Jrss n B. KAY.

TiMoTi Ylo DoBBins. is 

